How difficult it is for us to “find the time” for the things that matter. How difficult it is, as Blaise Pascal suggested, for us to truly “live in the present,” where life’s real delights linger.

Westerners have forgotten the present. Bit by bit they have whittled it down to nothing, and to retrieve it, they must undergo a genuine re-education.” – Jean-Louis Servan-Schreiber

In our “Sleep. The New Sex,” post we quoted Pascal’s warning, that if we don’t learn something about this (about ourselves, the life we’re living, the world swirling around us, etc.) that we just may miss out on life altogether.

“We live in times,” he writes, “that do not belong to us; the future or the past, and fail to live in the only time (the present) that truly is ours to live.” “It’s inevitable” he suggests, “that we may never live, but only hope to live…” – Blaise Pascal – 1623-1662

Many have mused that “the time between being too young, and then too old, is far too fleeting; that life flashed by without the attention or the living we long for. We risk, as Pascal suggested, never actually, living, but only hoping to live, and of course, planning to live.

In Servan-Schreibers brilliant little book “The Art of Time,” he writes about how difficult it may be for us to “take time,” to move away from the wild activity and schedules that certainly mark this fall season, as things “ramp up” once more. He suggests that while we may long for this in our lives, we may be afraid of stopping, to let better and deeper things begin to seep in.

Often, we act as though it is legitimate to take time for ourselves only when we have satisfied all the demands of others – in other words, never.

Sometimes, we are so imbued with this that we instinctively class as spineless laxity every moment not devoted to pure action. Hence an observable distrust of preliminary reflection, a period of recuperation, creative reverie, relaxation, the acquisition of knowledge that is not immediately useful. – Jean-Louis Servan Schreiber, “The Art of Time” (2000)

Though we may resent the never-ending demands on our lives, the mad-pace and and over-commitment (The “Tyranny of the Urgent” as Charles Hummel put it), we may not realize how difficult it may be to cut into the tightly woven fabric of this forever forward tumbling into the future (Pascal) .

It is easier to be busy, to thrash about (perhaps complaining all the while) in part of course, because so much of our identity may be wrapped up in this “doing,” this activity. Reflecting, stopping, waiting, desiring, imagining, and just “being” is devilishly hard work. But as Richard Swenson once wrote, the really exiting and juicy bits of life are found in the “margins” of our living.

Sex, especially good sex, lives in the margins of our lives. To be honest, how much room (and energy) do we have left? But as Ovid (43-B.C-17 A.D.) wrote, “Take away leisure and Cupid’s bow is broken!”

Leisure?

Don’t despair. Let’s think about some possibilities here.

Different months of the year conjure up different thoughts and feelings.

For instance, what do you think of when you consider December? Office parties, driving home in the dark, concerts, weary shopping expeditions, traffic jams, travelling, Christmas of course, and perhaps some time off

January? The hopes of a new year, post Christmas blues, days beginning to lengthen a wee bit, but still frigidly cold for many. New resolutions!

March? Spring Break! Yipee!

May? Well! (From Wikipedia article) “In 1995 San Francisco-based sex toy and education shop Good Vibrations declared May to be “Masturbation Month.” Since then, it has encouraged people to get sponsors as a fund raiser for charities with a sex-positive focus.” You didn’t know? Missed it? There’s always next year. A good fund raising fit for your organization?

But what about September? For many, the most intense time of the year. School starts with a fury, sports are back into full swing and parents back into very serious driving mode. Gone are the lazy halcyon days of summer as we return (sigh) to our regular commitments once again.

How do you feel about November? Do you associate it with spacious days and regular and happy sexual encounters with your lover, or to you instead grit your teeth for the cooler days, and the plans ramping up to Christmas?

We suggest that you think about taking some things back. And what better way than to also schedule regular, brisk, and rejuvenating lovemaking. This may require strict discipline as you say no to things that scream for your attention, but you also know (it’s all over the internet) that sex is very good for you, and perhaps the very best antidote to the weariness and fragmented exhaustion associated with this time of the year.

Where to begin?

1. If you have the copy of “A Private Affair” then you’ll have a two of the colourful game pins. Wear them for the month as a subtle, secret and happy reminder.

2. Ovid reminds us that the subtleties of seduction and the earthy pleasures of love cannot survive a busy and harassed life. “Take away leisure, and Cupid’s bow is broken.” Therefore, you will need to sit down with your beloved to seriously consider what you’ve planned, and what can be tossed! This includes the crazy hellish schedules we so often commit our kids to! WHO are we trying to keep up with? WHAT are we trying to do? And WHY don’t we say “enough!?”

3. Write some dates (perhaps a special notation – *S) in your books, into your paper or PDF calendar, wherever your life is laid out. Set some goals for 2009/2100 (gotta start somewhere). If Douglas and Annie Brown “Just Do It!” could take on the challenge of 100 days of sex, then perhaps you could suggest to your lover that you increase your flying frequency 100%, from 1 to 2 times/week, or from 2 to 4 times/week; heck, some might think of a full 5-days/week try-out. After all, it’s just for one month!

4. Just do it. It’s good for you, like flax seed, pomegranate juice, Vitamin D, sun screen, olive oil and exercise. Think of it as your own private fall schedule, (your personal “fall into bed” campaign?) to get things back on track, and to “take back September!”

Think of it… as the rich fall harvest, of the spring time and summer of your love!

May you reap a bumper crop!

﻿

One Response to “Time for Love”

I love what I’ve read here. It resonates with the conviction I’ve long held that I am meant to enjoy life … that I was made to be happy. Brother David Steindl-Rast voices my sentiment better than I can – “Quite unawares, one can get trapped in a world in which only the useful counts. The life expectancy of people who make usefulness their highest value drops abruptly after retirement. Common sense tells us that aliveness in not measured in degrees of usefulness but of enjoyment. Yet public opinion tries to persuade us that we do not need what is of no use. The contrary is true. What we need most urgently is not what we can use, but what we can enjoy. This distinction is crucial. Our deepest need is not use but enjoyment. The most enjoyable things in life are superfluous – music, for instance, or mountain climbing, or a kiss. “Superfluity,” as the word suggests, is an abounding overflow after the vessel of mere utility has been filled to the brim. In the word “affluence” the same idea of flowing is present, but only influx is what counts. In a utilitarian society there is only usefulness and more usefulness without the sparkling overflow that keeps it from getting stagnant. Enjoyment is not measured by what flows in, but by what flows over.” So … might I suggest that September is the time for superfluous sex 🙂 …

A PRIVATE AFFAIR is a simple and quick way to love and to enjoy each other with more ease and passion!

Pocket a few cards, head out the door, (or sit by the fire) and "the game's afoot!" Turn up the heat. Anywhere and anytime. Your own secret "private affair."

The notion is not simply that we can get to know each other better! (boring)

Eroticism is much more often nourished by the tension and excitement of what is different and separate, what is surprising and new. The game invites us to rediscovery and newness, exploring and risking like we did when we first met.

What will your loving be this weekend? "Same old" or perhaps something more exciting and satisfying?

Still not sure? Check out our "Press" tab at the top of this page for press releases and game reviews.

Games are shipped in North America by UPS Standard (delivery time 1-8 business days) or sometimes by expedited post (delivery time is 4-8 days).

We DO ship to the U.K. and Europe, and farther afield, so if interested, please write to us in the "contact us" area for shipping details to your area.

Cheers!

A Private Affair is “The game” for couples in love..

"Thanks so much for sending us your "Private Affair" game. We have truly loved playing it. We haven't gone through most of the cards yet but the ones we have have stimulated awesome discussion! Sometimes we only get through 2 or 3 cards at one time because they leave us with so much to talk about. I think it's so great that you've created a game like this...I've told a couple of my friends about it now too." J&E, Langley, British Columbia

Pass this on!

Links

Subscribe to Posts

Dr. Sellick's posts also featured on EzineArticles; (expert author status).

Return Policy:
Unopened games may be returned for a full refund up to 30 days from your date of purchase. The customer is responsible for return shipping costs.

Privacy Policy:
We are the sole owners of information you provide and will not share your information with any third party other than as necessary to fulfill your order and for you to use PayPal, e.g. to ship your game!